I recently was contacted directly by a scheduler from Intellishop to complete an audit. They sounded pretty desperate for a shopper in their email and even bumped the fee to a sizable amount. I accepted the offer, and the shop was assigned to me. 2 Days later I received a shop cancellation notice and an email from the scheduler saying that they had to assign the shop to someone else because of "date conflict"...whatever that means. Then they ended the email saying "sorry for the inconvenience, it was nothing against you". I'm so annoyed by the lack of professionalism from this scheduler, because this shop was over an hour away from my home and I cleared my day to make time for it. Besides, it's not like I requested the shop in the first place, the scheduler reached out to me! You would think that if the date were an issue, why not communicate that so that I can make the choice to clear my schedule for another day or pass the opportunity to someone else. Furthermore I was counting on the money. If the shoe was on the other foot, and I sent the scheduler an email at the last minute saying that I changed my mind about completing a shop, they'd place all kinds of nasty citations on my account and make it very difficult for me to continue shopping. I wish we as shoppers could report and give citations to some of these terrible schedulers.

Ah a new ploy by intellishop. We got someone who would do it last minute for cheaper so we removed it from you and gave it to them. I would call it at minimum a breach of contract but since you did not do the shop and it was removed before the scheduled date I don't know if it would hold up in court. Obviously you would never take it to court but just a hypothetical. What I would say is it looks like one more shopper who will be at least careful with intellishop. Your price should go up on the next shop you do for them if you still wish to work with them because of this. Sorry this happened to you.

I have a very limited range of experience with this MSC mostly due to the rep they have here. I recently did a purchase/return if you like shop for them for $28.....double bonused, in which I scored a 10. My only explanation is end of quarter, end of month. Under these conditions I will shop for this MSC, otherwise..........mmmmmm......I'll pass. It's as if there needs to be a premium involved for me to deal with Intellishop. But that one shop was easy and lucrative, I have to give them that.

Let's all stand together and cancel our shops with Intellishop to show them that we won't stand for this any more. Their crummy antics will not be tolerated no longer.

Now see, there is a huge difference here in two lowballing MSC's. I don't think that MarketForce would ever do such a thing.

@CoffeeQueen wrote:

Now see, there is a huge difference here in two lowballing MSC's. I don't think that MarketForce would ever do such a thing.

MF would never do what thing? Cancel shops before they are performed? I have had shops canceled by MF over the years. They usually send an e-mail notification when they cancel a shop, although I've seen some posts here that complain that MF shops were canceled from their assignment list without notification. I have always been notified when shops are canceled. I've actually only once had a shop canceled by Intellishop, but I've had several canceled by MF, a couple of them at the last minute, like 10:45 AM when I was scheduled for a lunch 11-2. That's pretty last minute.

But I agree that both companies are low-balling PITA MSCs, and I have worked for both of them for 7+ years. I will continue to work for both, although I recognize that MF and Intellishop don't always do business as I believe I would if I were in their place.

@Jay C wrote:

@CoffeeQueen wrote:

Now see, there is a huge difference here in two lowballing MSC's. I don't think that MarketForce would ever do such a thing.

MF would never do what thing? Cancel shops before they are performed? I have had shops canceled by MF over the years. They usually send an e-mail notification when they cancel a shop, although I've seen some posts here that complain that MF shops were canceled from their assignment list without notification. I have always been notified when shops are canceled. I've actually only once had a shop canceled by Intellishop, but I've had several canceled by MF, a couple of them at the last minute, like 10:45 AM when I was scheduled for a lunch 11-2. That's pretty last minute.

But I agree that both companies are low-balling PITA MSCs, and I have worked for both of them for 7+ years. I will continue to work for both, although I recognize that MF and Intellishop don't always do business as I believe I would if I were in their place.

OK I could be wrong. I've only been shopping for a couple of years now. What about Trendsource?

I only started shopping TrendSource last month and have done 2 shops so can't comment on them. I can say they are another low-balling MSC but so far they haven't been a PITA.

I have shopped twice for Intelli in the past year. Only because I got a big bonus on each one. If you get the wrong editor, which I have, even with a big bonus their shops are not worth it. I just don't understand where they are coming from with their low fees. I won't shop for less than $10. for a two minute shop, almost next door to my house that takes 10 minutes for the report.

Trendsource will bonus in the form of pad and pays 2x a month so they are not as bad as MF or intellishop.

I've been holding off signing up with Intellishop. After reading this, I think I'll not bother. Pulling a shop from someone and using the excuse of a "date conflict" is gauche and in my mind, unethical. Because, as BuffaloNY says, you know it has to be because they found someone who would do it for less. Otherwise, they could have first asked the OP if she could re-schedule. If not, then they could find another shopper.

It sucks to lose out on jobs we're counting on. However, we're only seeing half of the story. You never know if there was a scheduling issue having to do with multiple shops at a location, rotations, cancellations from the client, etc.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/04/2016 12:17AM by TechSavvy.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/04/2016 12:31AM by isabel16.

Here's another related thread I found regarding the scheduler I dealt with. Clearly I'm not the only one experiencing issues with this person.

[www.mysteryshopforum.com]

The emails are automated and not always current.

Yeah typically in these situations I would agree, but the scheduler just sent a mass email out advertising for this assignment again this afternoon with another bonus. Clearly they're unethical and a liar.

I see, thanks for the info.

Trendsource definitely low balls but they are really nice and responsive so I will do some easy filler shops for them here and there. I also like the health care shops. Intellishop occasionally has some good bonused shops but that is the only time I work for them anymore.

@isabel16 wrote:

Yeah typically in these situations I would agree, but the scheduler just sent a mass email out advertising for this assignment again this afternoon with another bonus. Clearly they're unethical and a liar.

Not a fan of Matt either.

I don' understand why you are taking it personal. A date conflict is not uncommon. Things happen. They've all been very polite to me.

There's probably more to the story that the OP might not be aware of, but a "date conflict" should have merely prompted the scheduler to see if the shopper could visit on a different date. After all, in the 2 days since the shop was assigned to her, she probably printed out materials, spent time reviewing the materials, etc. I would be annoyed too if that happened to me.

I'm annoyed when such things happen, but I try not to jump to conclusions.

I'm friends with some schedulers and know how clients change things up at the last minute and the schedulers must scramble. Scheduling's not a job I would want, ever. I have enough to keep track of just with my own shops, no way I would want to be responsible for a whole region of shoppers and jobs. I imagine scheduling for IntelliShop, Bare, MarketForce and other biggies is a nightmare with as many clients and locations as they have to fill every month. No thanks!

Just last month, I was ready to walk out the door when I checked my email on my phone one last time. There was an email from the scheduler informing me the client had cancelled the shop for the day because the target was unavailable. Was I annoyed? I had spent time preparing for this detailed shop, so sure. But I've learned that there's usually a lot more to the iceberg than what I see on the surface of the water. I try not to burn bridges. (How's that for mixing metaphors?)

Some schedulers are definitely better at communication than others, though.

@chigirl777 wrote:

There's probably more to the story that the OP might not be aware of, but a "date conflict" should have merely prompted the scheduler to see if the shopper could visit on a different date. After all, in the 2 days since the shop was assigned to her, she probably printed out materials, spent time reviewing the materials, etc. I would be annoyed too if that happened to me.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/06/2016 08:27PM by TechSavvy.

Cancellations due to unavailable targets or last-minute client requests are unavoidable. Date conflict? Not so much. As I said, there is probably more to this story that the OP isn't even aware of, but at face value, I ain't buying what that scheduler's peddling.

Date conflicts happen a lot when locations are shopped multiple times each month by multiple shoppers. But whatever happened, it sucked for the shopper.

I don't follow your response. An assignment for a shop is a contract. I made arrangements for this shop since it was far away from my home, and the scheduler just cancelled out of no where without a decent explanation. Sure there may be some things I'm not privy to as a shopper, but saying that I'm taking this too personal when it involves my time and money is just silly. I guess you must like having your time wasted, or maybe you're just here to troll. Either way, more power to you. Time is money for me, and I expect professionalism from the schedulers just the same as they do from us as shoppers.

I'm a long-time member here and not a troll by any means. I've just been shopping for 12 years and I've seen both sides of things. I don't like it when work is cancelled, either, but it happens from time to time. It's your choice whether or not you want to continue the relationship with that MSC and/or that scheduler. When you post something in a forum like this, you have to expect that there will be people that disagree with you or, like me, offer a comment about a bigger picture. I didn't do so rudely and would appreciate it if you would respond in kind.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/07/2016 12:20AM by TechSavvy.

You should try taking your own advice. Your initial response was hubristic and unnecessary. Good day.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/07/2016 12:25AM by isabel16.

"... If the shoe was on the other foot, and I sent the scheduler an email at the last minute saying that I changed my mind about completing a shop, they'd place all kinds of nasty citations on my account and make it very difficult for me to continue shopping. I wish we as shoppers could report and give citations to some of these terrible schedulers.[/quote]"


Can we give them a "Flake Citation" or " - HERO" award because your time is valuable and you set your day up around these shops and now their pulling out. You know where you stand, other shoppers who do work for them can see by your post their pulling it on other people. This is the only way to stop atrocious conduct is warning all your online friends what's happening to you, your shining the light on nasty conduct.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/07/2016 12:35AM by GrosMichel.

Isabel, just my two cents worth as a forum member since 2008. TechSavvy is a long-time, well-respected forum member who adds quite a bit to the forum and who has helped many new forum members, like you, certainly NOT a troll. Anyone who resorts to name-calling, as you are doing, may be considered a troll. Name-calling gets one moderated and sometimes banned.

I assume you are here for help. Anyone who has access to a computer and an internet connection can post here. We are a lightly-moderated forum and forum members can post whatever they want. Anytime you post on an internet forum, others also have the right to post their thoughts and ideas. You may not like their thoughts and ideas, but it is their right to post them.

Your snappishness is little over the top. Lose the attitude and make friends. Not everyone is going to say exactly what you want or give you as much support as you want.

You're entitled to your opinion, and the same can certainly be said about you. Now you're name calling, doesn't that make you a hypocrite? If you don't like what I have to say, go to another topic. It's really not that serious.